192 THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 



The Cricket Frog, Acris gryllus crepitans Baird (Fig. i8), is 



ver}- small. The skin is rough. The body color is brown or 



grayish brown. Extending from the snout nearly to 



"'^ ^ the end of the body there is a wnde band of bright 



green, which is interrupted between the eyes by a 



dark triangular blotch, with its point directed backwards. There 



are three small blotches on the sides, while the hind limbs are 



banded with dark brown. Beneath, the color is yellowish white. 



This species is subject to rapid and marked color changes 



FIG- 18. THE CRICKET FROG 

 From speciir.en in New York Zoological Park 



under the influence of var^^ng temperature and the mood of the 

 individual. These changes affect the general color of the body 

 and the bright band down the back. The band, although 

 usually of some shade of green, sometimes fades to yellowish 

 brown. The species is easily distinguished on account of its 

 distinct color pattern. It is the smallest of the local, tailless 

 batrachians. Length of body, i inch; total length with hind 

 limbs outstretched, 2^ inches. 



Range: The typical form occurs from North Carolina to 

 Florida, and westward to Louisiana. The v-ariety crepitans, also, 

 is found from the southern portion of New York State to North 

 Carolina ; it extends westward to Kansas, and still farther west- 

 ward in the extreme northern portion of its range. 



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